Stone Steps Foundation
Stone Steps Foundation is a private foundation, based in Cardiff, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $5.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $306K. Net investment income was $140K.
Stone Steps Foundation at a glance
In short: Stone Steps Foundation gave $306K across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $34K), mostly in New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $305,500
- +1.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- +80.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $33,944
- -43.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $5,482,085
- -3.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New York (72% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Stone Steps Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Acumen Fund Inc ($200K). Together the top 9 received $306K.
Grant Size Distribution
26 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 22 grants of 26 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Stone Steps Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $300K (2023) to $351K (2022). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $306K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Acumen Fund Inc New York, NY | General Support | $200,000 |
| Global Communities Silver Spring, MD | General Support | $20,000 |
| Global Witness Foundation Palo Alto, CA | General Support | $20,000 |
| Street Business School Niwot, CO | General Support | $20,000 |
| Sustainable Buyers Guide Inc New York, NY | General Support | $20,000 |
| Al Otro Lado San Ysidro, CA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Sanergy Inc Brookline, MA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Sarara Institute Denever, CO | General Support | $5,000 |
| Third Avenue Charitable Organization (Taco) San Diego, CA | General Support | $500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,482,085 | $179,743 | $396,743 | $305,500 | 9 | $331,699 | $140,295 | $327,157 |
| 2023 | $5,696,293 | $56,888 | $386,666 | $300,000 | 5 | $331,683 | $153,597 | $290,119 |
| 2022 | $6,026,071 | $157,879 | $441,202 | $351,000 | 5 | $384,272 | $109,944 | $298,862 |
| 2021 | $6,283,520 | $1,255,685 | $376,585 | $311,000 | 7 | $335,149 | $1,237,750 | $213,223 |
| 2020 | $1,524,171 | $7,088 | $2,277 | — | — | — | $5,096 | $20,282 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Stone Steps Foundation reported a distributable amount of $327K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Stone Steps Foundation is led by Karen Paterson, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Karen Paterson
President & Director
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Neukomm
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
Secretary, Trsr & Director → Secretary, Treasurer & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Stone Steps Foundation
How much does Stone Steps Foundation give each year?
Stone Steps Foundation gave $306K across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $300K across 5 grants.
What is Stone Steps Foundation's typical grant size?
Stone Steps Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $33,944, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Stone Steps Foundation give grants?
Stone Steps Foundation gives mostly in New York: 72% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (10%) and Colorado (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Stone Steps Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Stone Steps Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Stone Steps Foundation's largest grantees?
Stone Steps Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Acumen Fund Inc ($200,000), Global Communities ($20,000) and Global Witness Foundation ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 79% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Stone Steps Foundation?
Stone Steps Foundation reported $5.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $332K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $327K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Stone Steps Foundation's EIN?
Stone Steps Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-2108142. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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